Rock On!!

I want to thank everyone who was crazy enough to join in with my 'rock'n'roll challenge' this week!

I found it very difficult deciding which ones to show because I liked them all for different reasons, but in the end I chose....... Jendy http://jendypendy.blogspot.com/ - I loved all the bits and pieces you added, especially the curly quote! (And I adore gold leaf.)

Kimmie http://artinredwagons.blogspot.com/2009/02/rocks.html ..... I was so touched by the fact that you made not one, but TWO memorials for your pet fish! They are both beautiful.

Hope you've managed to find 'an alterable blank' for the next challenge; I'm doing a chipboard tissue box...in fact I'd better go and get on with it.......

Rock 'n' Roll!

OK, you're probably going to think I've lost the plot a little this week..........but I want you to go in your garden (or a friend or relatives) and find yourself a rock. Now I know some rocks and pebbles are already very beautiful without any help from us - I have loads in my home (I prefer them to ornaments), but try to find a fairly plain one. Then.....alter it!

On this one I used alcohol inks, gesso, gold flakes, Lumiere paint, a German scrap border and an image from Artchix.

On the other side I painted the background with Lumiere paint and gold ink then used my own drawing of Venus as a gel transfer (instructions below!) I added a few extra lines with a permanent pen. The letters are from a Tim Holtz Distressables sheet.

Finally I coated both sides with Liquitex Gloss Medium and Varnish.

I really hope you'll join in and have a go at this......and of course you'll have an attractive paperweight at the end of it!!

Gel Transfer

1. Print a copy of your chosen picture (I used a smaller version of my Venus sketch ). Cut around it (just roughly).

2. Paint a layer of gel medium onto the stone and place the picture on it face down.

3. Press hard and burnish with the back of a spoon or bone folder.

4. Let it dry for a few hours.

5. Wet the paper thouroughly and start to rub it away very gently. The image should remain on the stone when all the paper has gone.

It won't be perfect - but that can look good!